Inter Milan Back Manager Stefano Pioli After ‘Unacceptable’ Defeat

Inter Milan have given head coach Stefano Pioli their full backing following Saturday’s “unacceptable” defeat at Fiorentina.

The 51-year-old, who succeeded Frank de Boer in November, reportedly offered to resign after Fiorentina dished out a 5-4 punishment to the under-performing Nerazzurri, for whom a Mauro Icardi hat-trick proved insufficient as Matias Vecino, Khouma Babacar and Davide Astori ran riot.

It was a third defeat in four Serie A games for Inter, who are struggling to reach the Europa League qualifying places despite receiving heavy investment from the club’s new Chinese owners.

Pioli is expected to remain in charge at San Siro until the summer and the club confirmed he will not make way sooner, also announcing the squad would retreat to a training camp until Sunday.

A statement on their official website said: “The manner of the defeat at Fiorentina was unacceptable for our supporters, both in Italy and abroad, and we are determined to put this right.

“Everyone at the club, from the players to all staff, is now focused on working as hard as possible to achieve the maximum result and finish the season strongly.

“In order to achieve this, the club confirms its full backing and that of the ownership for Stefano Pioli and his entire technical team.

“Pioli joined Inter at a difficult time, and the work he has carried out together with his staff over the six months since he joined has been exceptional and deserves our full respect.”

Inter said their target “remains to finish as high as possible in Serie A and qualify for European competition by giving the maximum in every match.”